Youngtown courts decision on water rates

Youngtown filed an appeal Tuesday with the Maricopa County Superior Court to force a water rate increase that would pay for more fire hydrants and upgraded pipelines and help guard against a potential "tragedy."

The town also will send an appeal today to the Arizona Court of Appeals seeking to overturn an Arizona Corporation Commission decision in May that eliminated fire-flow improvements from Arizona American Water Co.'s rate increase application.

"This is a public safety issue that jeopardizes, not only property but lives here," Mayor Michael LeVault said.

LeVault said he believes additional fire hydrants and new pipes are necessary to improve fire safety not only in Youngtown but in Sun City and a portion of Peoria.

"Agua Fria Ranch is up to standards but the older parts of town aren't, and all it takes is for one fire and not enough water to make a tragedy," LeVault said. "It's a critical issue that needs to be resolved right away."

The Sun City Fire District supported the improvements before the ACC, but some Sun Citians, led by the Sun City Taxpayers Association, argued that residents could not afford to pay more for the improvements.

More than 44,000 feet of pipes and mains as well as 195 new fire hydrants were to be installed under the initial proposal. In Sun City, about 6,400 units would have been served by the improvements, while in Youngtown, 2,200 units were to be affected.

After the ACC decision, Youngtown filed an appeal with the commission, but it was denied. The courts are the last resort before the town is forced to handle the matter on its own.

If the appeals are denied, LeVault said there are other options. One would be a fire-flow recovery mechanism that could order the improvements in town but add a base rate to Youngtown residents bills between $1.25 to $1.30.

"If we're not successful on the appeal, then this becomes a Youngtown issue," he said.